Leeds Drive-In
1170 Main Street,
Leeds,
NY
12451
1170 Main Street,
Leeds,
NY
12451
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Leeds Open Air Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located on Route 23 next to Catskill Creek. The Leeds Open Air Theatre was opened in 1940. It became a drive-in theatre on July 26, 1945, opening with Greer Garson in “Valley of Decision” as the Leeds Drive-In. It was operated by Harry Lamont of Lamont Theaters. 150 cars plus outdoor seating area(number of seats unknown? Closed in 1959. The snack bar building was still there for a while, but has since been demolished.
Contributed by
David coppock
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
A 1952 and 1956 aerial does not reveal any area large enough to be a drive-in holding 150 vehicles. Of course, I could be missing something, but is there a more exact location other than Green Lake Road?
It was built next to Catskill Creek, near a swimming hole known as Slippery Hole, on Green Lake Road near an old stone bridge. There is still a old stone refreshment stand(built before the open air theatre, that is still standing there. There is also still marks on the rocks of bank of Catskills Creek where the projector was bolted on to rocks. Also some faint ramps remaining on in the grass banks.
A possible address is 1170 Main St, Leeds, NY.
There is an area that I thought was part of the cemetery which may be the drive-in. It looks like it could hold about 50 cars. The screen sat right on the bank with the projection booth bracketed by outdoor seats. The three ramps are unusual because they are parallel and all behind the booth. As if patrons were to get out of their vehicles and sit in the seats.
There is an access road that sits on Main Street which, as funny as it looks, appears to be the entrance. There is what appears to be a small exit road that runs on the north side of the cemetery. But that appears considerably smaller than the access road from Main Street.
Very little is left today. There is a large rock where the projection booth once sat. Faint hints of the parallel ramps, and a small structure on the north side next to the creek that may be the “refreshment stand”.
https://tinyurl.com/3pvb2ps8
There is some photos and information about this open air theatre on the website. http//:www.newyorkdriveins.com
This open air was for cats and walk in’s too.
The advertisements on the NY Drive-In site confirms the entrance was next to the Stone Bridge which is at 1170 Main Street, Leeds, NY.
In addition, the information provided on the site says the open air theater opened in 1940 and became a drive-in in 1945. This is backed up by an advert described as the “Grand Opening” on July 26th, 1945.
At 53 Green Lake Road is a small foundation for what may have been the exit sign. There is pipe and conduit present, but I cannot confirm that it has anything to do with the drive-in.
http://www.newyorkdriveins.com/catskillsregion/leeds/leeds.php
I mean cars and walk in’s, not cats.
There is no way the area was big enough to hold 100 cars, much less 150. Each ramp might have held 20 cars and there are three ramps in total. The one in the back is right next to the cemetery.
There might have been off-site parking for patrons to walk into the area and sit in the chair or benches.
I wonder if people were dying to go to this drive-in theatre, located next to a cemetery? Wonder if it ever screened any horror movies?